Taking aim at federal gun regulations

After two high-profile mass shootings, federal legislators began working on changes to gun regulations.

Comment

By Carmen Bourlon

The Shawnee News-Star

By Carmen Bourlon

Posted Mar. 17, 2013 at 10:00 AM

By Carmen Bourlon
Posted Mar. 17, 2013 at 10:00 AM

After two high-profile mass shootings, federal legislators began working on changes to gun regulations.

Two tragic incidents rocked the nation. The first – a shooting in July in Aurora, Colo., inside a crowded movie theater. More than 70 people were injured and 12 were killed, with the youngest victim only seven years old.

Less than six months later, a gunman entered a Connecticut elementary school and killed 27 people, including himself. Twenty of the dead were students and the other six were adult employees, including teachers.

The senseless shooting rekindled debate which had fizzled after the Aurora shooting.

Since then, officials in every capacity – from the National Rifle Association to Washington politicians – have been scrambling for an answer.

President Barack Obama signed 23 executive orders – a move which was criticized because the orders were not voted on by Congress.

Orders included universal background checks, which would require everyone, including private sellers, to do a background check on the person to whom they are selling the gun.

Another component of the president’s plan included implementing a stronger mental health system, as well as “banning military-style assault weapons” and “high capacity magazines.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal) also proposed a bill, which narrowly passed 10-8 out of senate committee. Feinstein’s bill would ban future purchases on semi-automatic weapons, which reload automatically after the trigger is pulled but before the clip is empty, firearms with a detachable magazine, and which have one “military feature,” which includes a pistol grip.

Her bill would additionally ban clips that hold more than 10 rounds.

Feinstein was quoted on CNN saying she expects an “uphill fight” to push her bill through and she expects to meet heavy opposition from the Republicans in Senate, including Oklahoma legislators.

So far, no bill has been approved by Congress and signed by the President regarding gun regulations.